Device for covering holes in vessels.



T. R. HAYTO'N.

DEVICE FOR COVERING HOLES IN VESSELS.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 26.19%.

1,226,881. Patented May 22, 1917.

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T. R. HAYTON.

DEVICE FOR COVERING HOLES IN VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26.1915.

1,226,881. Patented May 22, 1917.

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lowing description.

THOMAS It. HAYTON, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

DEVICE FOR COVERING HOLES IN VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed July 26, 1915. Serial No. 41,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. HAYTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Appleton, in the county of Outagamie and State of Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Covering Holes in Vessels, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for preventing the sinking of vessels that have been injured by torpedoes, mines, projectiles, or through collision with another vessel. The object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of device, which I call an apron, adapted to be placed in position over the hole or opening made in the hull of the vessel by any of the causes referred to above, and to be held in water-tight contact with the hull of the vessel by the pressure thereonof the surrounding body of water.

Stated more in detail, an object of the in vention is to provide an apron for covering openings in the hulls of vessels which may be rolled upon itself and held in such condition when not in use, and to provide for tripping the holding means so as to permit the apron to be unrolled by gravity and the pressure of the water. A further object of the invention relates to means for enabling the apron to be properly positioned over the hole to be covered. Other objects of the invention relate to details of construction and to combinations and operations of parts, all of which will be clearly set forth in the fol- In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a view inend elevation of my improved apron, showing the same rolled upon itself and held in such condition by trip mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the apron unrolled and showing also in conjunction therewith, and in edge view, a device for guiding the apron" to position over the hole to be covered;

Fig. 3 is a View in rear elevation, that is to say, a view of the apron as it appears when looking 'at the side thereof which is brought into contact with the hull of the vessel;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the guide hook and attachments for enabling the apron to be correctly positioned over an aperture in a vessel;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the guide hook and attachments shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of a locating instrument;

Fig. 7 is aview in side elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the manner of connecting the adjacent ribs of the apron; and

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the construction of the flexible pipe for effecting a water-tight contact of the edge portion of the apron with the hull of the vessel.

Referring now to these drawings, the numerals 1 indicate a series of ribs which are of bulb steel, each of which comprises a base flange 2, a web 3 and a circular head 4. This construction of rib possesses great strength, and the rounded heads 4, being of very slight diameter as compared with the width of the flanges 2, permit said heads to come close together and enables the apron as a whole to be rolledupon itself into a spirallike form, as shown in Fig. l. The flanged bases 2 are provided with sharpened edges, and adjoining flanges are connected by a flexible strip 5 riveted along its edges, as indicated at 6, to the tops of adjacent flanges 2. Preferably I interpose a sheet of tar paper 7 (see Fig. 8) between the strip 5 and the upper surfaces of the flanges 2, and between the heads of the rivets 6 and the fiexi .ble strip 5 I interpose a narrow strip of steel 5* to prevent buckling of the strip 5 between rivets. The strips 5 forming the flexible connection between the steel ribs 1 may be made of stitched canvas belting, but preferably they are constructed of sheet metal of considerable thickness but sufliciently flexible for heavy apparatus. The flanges 2 are tapered to sharpened edges in order that the tar paper extending between the edges of the flanges may be practically flush with the flat bases of the flanges and thus avoid forming spaces which will permit the passage under the apron of considerable water and prevent sealing contact thereof with the side of the vessel. The apron, as a whole, is substantially rectangular in shape, the ribs 1 running transversely thereof in parallel relation, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Extending around the edge portion of this apron on its contact side is a flexible, inflatable pipe 8. This pipe, as shown by Fig. 9, is of special construction, being provided with a thickened extension 9 at one side, 'eX- tending throughout its length by passing rivets or similar connecting means through which and into the apron the pipe 8 may be fixedly secured to the apron and be free to expand when inflated by air or filled with water. The pipe 8, as will be understood, entirely surrounds the apron, and is provided with an extension 10 which leads upward from the upper side of the apron, and by means of which the said pipe may be inflated or expanded to a greater or less extent, as occasion may require, by pumping air or water into it through the extension 10.

Secured centrally to the upper end of the apron is a bail 11 in which is secured an eye-bolt 12 to receive a hook 13 on the end of a cable 1 1 to enable the apron to be raised and lowered through the medium of an ordinary steam hoist. Extending through and secured in the bail 11 is a bolt 15 on which is pivotally mounted the upper end of a trip arm 16. Secured on the front or operative face of the apron, and about centrally thereof, is an eye-bolt 17, in the eye of which is mounted a link 18. Mounted on the end of the trip arm 16 is an automatic catch 19 which, when the apron is rolled up, as shown in Fig. 1, engages in the link 18 and holds it in this condition. Secured to the catch 19 is a releasing arm 20, to the outer end of which is connected one end of a cable 21, by pulling on which the catch 19 is opened to release engagement with the link 18 and permit the apron to unroll. Secured on the bail 11 by means of the bolt 15 is a solid bracket having arms 22 projecting rearward from the apron and apertured at their ends to receive a removable pin 23.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the numeral 2 1 indicates a flat steel bar which is provided at its lower end on its inner side with a hook 25 provided with a sharp cutting point or edge 26 to enable it to readily engage and be held in contact with a metal surface. Secured at their lower ends on opposite sides of this bar at a considerable distance above the hook 25 are arms 27, each of which has secured in its upper end a guy line 28. A suitable distance above the point of connection of the arms 27 with the bar 24, the latter is provided on opposite sides with shoulders 29, which, as will be later explained, act to stop the downward movement of the apron as a whole when it has reached a correct position to enable it to cover the opening. The bar 24 is provided in its up per end with a socket 30 in which is secured the end of a wire cable 31. The device just described I term a guide hook, and in operation the same is lowered by the cable 31 until it comes opposite the opening, when the rush of the water through the opening will cause the instrument to move inward andthus indicate to the operator itspresence opposite the opening. In this operation the guide hook may be guided by certain devices later to be described. As soon as the guide hook, however, comes opposite the opening and is forced inward by the water as described, the operator then pulls up on the cable 31, until the hook 25 engages under the upper edge of the opening. The cable is pulled taut to hold the hook firmly in such engagement, and the upper end of the cable is made fast. The apron previously de scribed is mounted on a suitable carriage and is at once transported toa position on the deck above the opening, and having been hoisted and moved outward beyond the side of the vessel in a position to be lowered, the

guide cable 31 is caused to pass between the bracket arms 22, and the removable pin 23 inserted to prevent the withdrawal of said cable from between the arms 22. The apron as a whole is then lowered until the arms 22 engage the shoulders 29, thereby stopping the further descent of the apron. The cable 21 is then pulled to open the catch 19 and the apron automatically unrolls by force of gravity, assisted by pressure of the inrushing water. If the list of the vessel or the curvature of the side is such as to prevent the apron from being forced into engagement by the pressure of the water throughout its entire length with the hull of the vessel, ropes secured to the lower end of the apron and passed under the vessel may be used for perfecting such contact.

As the surface of the hull of the vessel adjacent to the hole to be covered would ordinarily be very uneven, thus preventing a flat rigid surface from making a sealing contact with the hull of the vessel, I provide for overcoming this difficulty by inflating or filling with water the pipe 8, which would be anywhere from six to twelve inches in diameter, and when so expanded or inflated will be forced outward into sealing contact with the hull of the vessel, the flexible character of the pipe permitting it to bulge into and fill spaces formed by the uneven character of the surface of the hull surrounding the hole. The pipe 8 may be made of heavy sheet rubber and canvas in the manner of the ordinary hose pipe, or-any desired construction of pipe may be employed which experience may determine is best suited for the object in view.

In order to locate the hole in the vessel I employ the instruments shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Two of these instruments are required, and both are alike. The part that is intended to go below the water line comprises a relatively long strip or blade 32 of spring steel, slightly oval in shape, and sharp on both edges so as to cut through the water with the least resistance. This blade is long enough to extend to the lowest point on the hull to be reached with the apparatus. This blade is attached to the lower part of a handle 33 which may be made of light steel tubing. To the blade 32 there is attached, at a point about twothirds of its length from the bottom, a short piece of flat steel in the form of an arm 34. to the outer end of which is connected a guy line 35 for the purpose of holding the instrument in position when the vessel 1s in motion. The arm 34 is bent at an angle to the blade 32 in such manner that the pull on the guy line 35will tend to turn the blade 32 inward and cause it to hug the side of the vessel. The arm 3a is also made heavier at its end portion 36 connected to the blade 32, to assist in imparting an inward throw to the blade 32 when the line 35 is pulled taut. I

When a hole occurs below the water line, the operators take the locatinginstruments just described and place them in the water on each side of the hole, one operator holding each instrument upright while a helper,

by means of the guy line 35, holds the blade 32 against movement caused by the passage of the instrument through the water. As soon as the hole is reached the instrument is forced against the side of the vessel by the water entering the hole, and its movement is thus stopped. The instruments are moved to the edges of the hole and in this way its diameter is determined. The guide book 24 is then dropped between the two locating instruments and held as near the center as possible by means of the guy lines 28 and lowered rapidly to the hole. As soon as the hook reaches the hole this fact will. be known by the instrument being forced inward by the power of the inrushing water. The guide hook is then drawn up bythe cable 31, until it hooks into the top of the hole, as previously described. If found not to be in the center, it is lowered and shifted with the guy lines to the proper position, and then again drawn up to engage the top of the hole. The apron is then lowered in the manner previously described, and if necessary guy lines (not shown) may be connected to the apron to assist in centering it and holding it against the force of the water. The apron is then tripped to close the hole and the pumps started to force water or air into the pipe 8. In order to assist in centering the guide hook 24 I may connect a guide line 37 to the lower end of the forward locating instrument 33, and by a suitable connection of the guide hook 24L therewith the latter may be caused to be guided to the proper position over the hole. This connection may consist of a short length of cable 38 connected from one side of the guide book, and having a snap or loop 39 on its outer end whlch may be snapped over the cable guide line 37. Any suitable means for this purpose, however, may be employed.

respective devices will be drilled in the rapid use of the same, and with expert operators. and proper transport and hoisting ma clunery for manipulating the apron, it is believed not to exceed five minutes will be required to close an aperture well below the I water line, while one at or near the surface could probably be closed in from two to three minutes.

After the apron is placed over the aperture it may be fastened from the inside of the vessel. As a means for accomplishing this it is preferable to provide screw-threaded sockets in the ribs 1, on the inner side of the apron, and to place removable plugs 40 therein (see Figs. 3 and 8), which latter are flush with the faces of the ribs so as not to interfere in the application of the apron, but may be readily removed when the latter is positioned, after which screweyes or other suitable devices are inserted in said screw-threaded openings for the attachment of the fastening devices.

I claim:

I L A device of the class described comprising a series of parallel ribs having flanged bases, and flexible strips secured to the upper sides of adjacent flanges and uniting them in spaced relation.

2. A device of the class described comprising a series of parallel ribs having flanged bases connected in spaced relation by flexible metallic strips, an engaging member secured to said device, an arm also secured thereto and having a releasable catch adapted to cooperate with said engaging member when said device is rolled upon itself, and a line operatively connected to said catch and adapted to be pulled for releasing the engagement of said catch with said engaging member to permit said device to unroll.

3. In a device of the class described, an apron comprising a series of parallel bulb steel ribs having flanged bases, and flexible metallic strips secured at their edges to opposing flanges.

4:. In a device of the class described, an apron comprising a series of parallel ribs having flanged bases, flexible strips connected at their edges to opposing flanges and maintaining them in separated relation, and strips of packing material interposed be tween said flexible strips and the surface of said flanges.

with the headed ends of its ribs extending inward, and an inflatable pipe securedon the operating face of said apron extending around the edge thereof and provided with an extension for permitting its inflation.-

6. In a device of the class described, in combination with an apron and'a cable for raising and lowering the same, a guide for saidgipron comprising a strip of metal-having' an inwardly-extending hook on its lower end, a guide cable secured to the upper end of said'strip', and means for effecting slidable engagement between said apron and said guide cable.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination with a flexible apron and a cable for raising and lowering the same, a guide for said apron comprising a strip of metal having stops thereon and provided at its lower end with a hook, a guide cable connected to said strip, and means carried by said apron for slidably receiving said guide cable and for engaging the stops on said strip when theapron has been lowered the required distance determined by the engagement of the hook with the upper edge of the hole to be covered.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination'with a flexible apron and a cable for raising and lowering the same, a guide hook having a guide cable thereon for said apron, and a locating instrument having a guide wire secured thereto, and means for 'slidably connecting said guide hook with said guide wire.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS R. HAYTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

